Minister Roderick Galdes resigns amid controversy

Minister Roderick Galdes, at the centre of multiple controversies during his tenure as Housing Minister, has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Robert Abela.

In a government-issued press statement, Galdes described himself as the target of “attacks,” a term often used by ruling party members when scrutiny uncovers potential conflicts or controversial decisions.

Galdes, who has held various senior government roles since 2013, steps down amid sustained criticism over his conduct as Housing Minister.

His tenure was marked by several high-profile controversies that drew scrutiny from political opponents, civil society groups, and the media.

Among the most significant allegations, Galdes was accused of undue interference in the operations of Malita Investments Plc, a government-majority-owned company responsible for financing and delivering large-scale social housing projects.

Former Malita chairperson and Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi publicly accused him of “meddling” in company affairs and maintaining overly close ties with contractors.

Mizzi resigned from her post in 2024, citing these concerns, and her successor also resigned amid ongoing governance issues. During Galdes’s tenure, Malita’s financial position deteriorated, large housing projects stalled, and contractors were left owed millions.

Galdes also faced criticism over the purchase of a duplex penthouse and garage in Gozo from a property developer linked to major Housing Authority contracts. He acquired the property for €140,000, an amount critics described as well below market value.

While Galdes stated that the price reflected a 2021 agreement and complied with legal requirements, the acquisition from developer Joseph Portelli raised conflict of interest concerns. Further scrutiny arose when media reports indicated the penthouse was not listed in Cabinet asset declarations for 2021 and 2022, intensifying calls for transparency.

Additional controversy involved a barter transaction in which Galdes exchanged an apartment in Xagħra for a plot of land in Għarb with the same Gozo developer. This deal prompted renewed calls for an investigation into his private dealings with property interests.

Opposition figures, including Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg, have repeatedly demanded Galdes’s resignation, citing governance failures and potential conflicts of interest. The Green Party and other civil society organisations also urged independent inquiries into his conduct.

In his resignation statement, Galdes maintained that he had always acted within the law. The government’s release did not outline the next steps regarding ongoing investigations or potential political consequences following his departure.